Exposxingspn Nxatu - Natural Arta typical northern (and Inner) Great Bear trip. But please note that...
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The Photography of Brad Hill Natural Art Images www.naturalart.ca Exposing Nature’s Art [email protected]
Transcript of Exposxingspn Nxatu - Natural Arta typical northern (and Inner) Great Bear trip. But please note that...
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B r a d H i l lNatural Art Images
www.naturalart.ca Exposing Nature’s Art [email protected]
T h e P h o t o g r a p h yo f
B r a d H i l l
www.naturalart.ca Exposing Nature’s Art [email protected]
Natural Art Images
The Summer in the Southern Great Bear Instructional Photo Tour 2019 combines a day of professional photography instruction with eight days of exploration and photography in an excep-tionally special, wild and pristine wilderness. You will be pro-
vided with the opportunity, the conceptual and creative tools, and the techniques needed to capture striking images of spectacular scenery and a diverse array of wildlife. Our “targeted” subjects will include Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, Humpback Whales, Sea Otters, land- and seascapes, and more. And, we’ll do all this while traveling into the depths of the Great Bear Rainforest aboard a classic and spacious 70-foot schooner, the Passing Cloud.
Photography Instruction. The Instructional Photo Tour begins with a full day of photography instruction. The session will be of benefit to all
levels of photographers – from enthusiastic novices through to seasoned professionals. We will discuss both the technical and creative aspects of wildlife photography as well as the specifics of photographing scenery and wildlife within the Great Bear Rainforest. While the instructional material will be agnostic with respect to camera brand and camera style (e.g., point & shoot vs. SLR) it will be assumed that most participants will be bringing either digital SLR’s or mirrorless cameras.
Photography instruction will also take place during our time on the Passing Cloud. This instruction will be less formal and on a “time-permit-ting” basis. The topics will vary, depending on both the specific interests of, and requests made by, those on the trip. It could include sessions on digital workflow topics, including raw image processing through to dis-cussions on field-techniques and camera gear.
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The Region – And Our Expedition At A Glance. The portion of the British Columbia mainland coast that stretches from Rivers Inlet in the south to the Skeena River in the north is often referred to as “The Great Bear Rainforest”. At over 64,000 square kilometers (25,000 sq. mi.) it is the largest tract of temperate coastal rainforest left on planet Earth. Here the coastal mountains meet the Pacific Ocean – the area is cut by hundreds of steep-sided inlets/fjords and there are countless islands. The more inland portions of the Great Bear Rainforest (AKA the “Inner Great Bear”) are characterized by thick forests cut by steep-sided inlets – here forest liter-ally meets salt water! Another characteristic feature is the presence of wide, fertile estuaries where inland rivers and streams drain into the inlets and fjords. These estuaries are wildlife viewing and wildlife photography hotspots!
The portions of the Great Bear Rainforest more directly facing the Pacific Ocean (AKA the “Outer Great Bear”) are more wind- and “sea-swept” and include many islands and islets with more stunted tree growth and are generally more open than the forest of the Inner Great Bear. Many portions of the shoreline even have long, sandy beaches!
Both faces of the Great Bear – the Inner and Outer – are true wilderness and stunningly beautiful! They are rarely visited by humans. And both faces share many fascinating wildlife species, including Grizzly Bears, Black (and Spirit) Bears, coastal Gray Wolves, Wolverines, American Martens, Bald Eagles, Humpback Whales, Killer Whales, and Harbor Seals. The Outer Great Bear adds even more species to this strong list – here Steller Sea Lions, Sea Otters, additional whale species (such as Fin Whales), and many species of waterfowl and seabirds are more commonly seen, adding even more faunal diversity to our adventure!
The southern portion of the Inner Great Bear has generally the same assem-blage of wildlife species as the more northern regions. However our intended route provides us with the opportunity (if weather conditions and the sea state permits) to explore portions of the Outer Great Bear as well (see the accom-panying map). This gives us a greater chance of seeing and photographing coastal Gray Wolves, Sea Otters, Steller Sea Lions and Fin Whales than on
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a typical northern (and Inner) Great Bear trip. But please note that on this trip our chances of encountering a Spirit Bear are lower than in the northern Great Bear trips we run in the late summer and early autumn.
This is a Tour of Exploration! The Summer in the Southern Great Bear Instructional Photo Tour 2019 is a true tour of photographic exploration. We’ll explore the inlets, bays and old-growth forest of the spectacular mid-coast of British Columbia. We’ll walk trails and beaches, explore creeks, and search for the unique mix of subject matter that only the Great Bear Rainforest can provide! The photographic opportunities on this tour are always absolutely amazing.
This is a multi-faceted trip, focusing not only on the bears, but on all the inhabitants of the Great Bear Rainforest – and the entire ecosystem in which they thrive. While the bears are an integral part of this trip, we will be approaching this trip with an attitude of finding and capturing any form of natural beauty and natural art we can find. This may include many species of terrestrial and marine wildlife and birds, intertidal scenes, landscapes, seascapes, and more! If your sole goal is to photo-graph bears (to the exclusion of other subject matter you will be present-ed with), this may not be the trip for you.
2019 Trip Start and End Points: The photo tour starts and ends in Bella Bella, BC.
2019 Date: August 24 - September 3, 2019, including arrival and depar-ture days. August 26 - September 3 aboard the Passing Cloud.
2019 Price: $7499 CAD plus 5% GST.
2019 Photo Tour Leader: Brad Hill
What’s Included?
• All meals and accommodation in Bella Bella beginning on the eve-ning of Day 1 (see Itinerary)
• A full day of professional photography instruction at the beginning of the trip and multiple informal instructional sessions during the course of the trip
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• Any extra personal expenses incurred because of weather, logistical delays, or missed flights
• Any gratuities for the crew of the Passing Cloud
What To Expect?
• Cool and rapidly “changeable” weather (daytime highs of about 18-22C or 65-72˚ fahrenheit) with the possibility of moderate to heavy rain
• Mostly calm seas, but with some bouts of rolling or choppy water • Hearty, healthy and delicious food• Always warm, always dry floating basecamp!• A truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience!
• All food and accommodation while aboard the Passing Cloud• A highly-experienced crew, wildlife guides, chef and a professional
photography guide• All First Nation, Conservation, and Stewardship fees• Use of onboard gear and resources, including rubber boots!• Use of Zodiac® and all associated safety gear (life jackets, etc.)
What’s Not Included?
• Transportation between your home and Bella Bella, BC at the begin-ning and end of the trip
• Personal belongings and equipment as per “Gear Lists”• Meals and accommodation in Bella Bella/Shearwater prior to Day 1
of the photo tour
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Accommodation: While in Bella Bella we’ll be staying at the Shearwater Resort & Marina.This trip is being offered in association with Outer Shores Expeditions. While in the Great Bear Rainforest we will be staying on their classic 70-foot wooden schooner – the Passing Cloud. Please be aware that you will be sharing a berth with one other person while on the Passing Cloud.
Fitness Requirements of Participants
This photo tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness and good mobility. We will be walking/hiking a number of times on this trip and we will be shooting images from the deck of the sailboat, from within a Zodiac®, and on shore. To participate in this trip you should be able to perform the following tasks:
• Be able to hike up to 2-3 km (up to 2 miles) on uneven, slanted and potentially slippery terrain and/or over some obstacles that could be up to a meter or slightly more high (e.g., large fallen logs) – all while carrying your own camera gear.
• Be able to easily move between the sailboat and the Zodiac®. This involves climbing up or down a 5’ vertical ladder.
• Shoot your camera from within a Zodiac®. This involves multiple tasks, including shooting your camera while sitting on the pontoon of the Zodiac® or, at times, while sitting on the floor of the Zodiac®. In some cases you may find that the most convenient way to shoot will be while kneeling (on your knees) on the bottom of the Zodiac®. This is the reason knee pads are included as optional items on the gear list. Note that tripods can not be used within the Zodiac® and while it is theoretically possible to use a monopod in the Zodiac®, few photog-raphers find it practical. The obvious consequence is that you must be
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able to hand-hold the camera/lens system that you will be bringing and using on this photo tour.
Sample ItineraryNOTE: The itinerary of the Summer in the Southern Great Bear Instruc-tional Photo Tour is designed for flexibility. This allows us to react to the ever-changing distribution and abundance of wildlife and fluctuating weather conditions. Here’s an example of how our time together may look! The route we have chosen provides us with opportunities to explore both faces of the Great Bear – the Inner and the Outer Great Bear. This is only a sample itinerary and how we actually spend our days may differ from this proposed route and schedule.
Day 1 – August 24, 2019
Arrive in Bella Bella, BC. Make your way to the Shearwater Resort and Marina. You may check-in any time from 3 PM on. If you arrive early in the day feel free to go for a walk or check out the facilities. Our first of-ficial activity will be meeting in the restaurant for dinner at 6:30 PM.
Day 2 – August 25, 2019
Photo instruction in Shearwater. After breakfast we’ll spend 4 to 5 hours in a classroom-style instructional session on modern digital photogra-phy, with special emphasis on the technical and creative aspects of wild-life photography. We will also discuss the nuances of bear photography
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as well as the specifics and etiquette of shooting from the close quarters of a reasonably small inflatable Zodiac®. The late afternoon activities are not firmly scheduled – options could include an extended question-and-answer session on photography, roaming the region to sightsee, getting some exercise, or, if you wish, some free time.
Day 3 – August 26, 2019
Early breakfast, followed by boarding the Passing Cloud at the marina in Shearwater. Following meeting the crew and guides of the Passing Cloud, allocating cabins, and a brief orientation we’ll begin our journey into the Great Bear Rainforest. Our voyage will immediately take us north into glacier-carved fjords of the “Inner Great Bear” where photographic opportunities can abound! The narrow channels we’ll travel through are home to Humpback and Killer Whales, Seat Otters, Elephant Seals and countless seabirds. End of day will see us anchoring in a small coastal estuary where salmon may already be arriving. We’ll be able to watch for wildlife from the deck of the Passing Cloud.
Day 4 – August 27, 2019
We’ll begin the day heading north along the east side of Princess Royal Channel and towards Khutze Inlet, one of the Great Bear’s many gems. Here we’ll be surrounded by snow-capped mountains, steep granite walls, and stunning cascading waterfalls. We’ll venture into the estuary by Zo-diac® with the hopes of finding some of the local inhabitants of this rich ecosystem, which includes Grizzly Bears, Coastal Gray Wolves, and Bald Eagles.
Day 5 – August 28, 2019
Today we’ll continue heading north and over the northern tip of Princess Royal Island with the expectation we’ll be encountering an increasing number of Humpback Whales and possibly even some lightning-fast Dall’s Porpoises. By afternoon we’ll be exploring kelp forests and visiting Steller Sea Lion haul-out rocks. With luck we may even encounter some Transient Killer Whales in search of their preferred prey – marine mammals!
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Day 6 – August 29, 2019
Today we continue south on the western side of Princess Royal Island and venture in a region of the “Outer Great Bear” that’s becoming in-creasingly known as “Whale Haven”. Here the sightings of both Hump-back and Fin Whales are increasing. Fin Whales are the second largest mammals on Earth and are often longer than the Passing Cloud! Evening should see us anchoring in a secluded cove.
Day 7 – August 30, 2019
Today we’ll continue our cruise south and be on the lookout for large groups of Humpback Whales that are known to engage in unique and spectacular bouts of bubble net feeding. Later in the day we’ll cross Cammano Sound and shortly thereafter stretch our legs on the stunning white-sanded beaches of Campania Island. Swimming anyone? ;-)
Day 8 – August 31, 2019
Our goal today will be to explore the western inlets of Princess Royal Island and have another taste of the “Inner Great Bear”. We’ll head deep into an inlet in the hopes of finding the rare white Spirit Bear. And, we plan to doing a little trekking along creeks and streams which may al-ready be filling with migrating Pacific Salmon.
Day 9 – September 1, 2019
We’ll begin today early in hopes of catching glimpses (and possibly pho-tos!) of coastal Gray Wolves that are sometimes seen foraging on marine life when the estuary is at low tide. The remainder of the day could see us exploring the estuary region or spending time sailing and whale watch-ing.
Day 10 – September 2, 2019
This morning we’ll pass through an almost “secret passage” of Myers Nar-rows en route to the First Nations community of Klemtu. By afternoon we’ll sail through Finlayson Channel and Milbanke Sound, returning back to the outer coast. And, of course, we’ll be on the lookout for whales
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and other marine mammals throughout the day!
Day 11 – September 3, 2019
As we’re traveling the short distance back to Bella Bella we’ll be on the lookout for last minute wildlife sightings. Once we get to Bella Bella we say farewell to our shipmates before disembarking and heading to the Bella Bella Airport. And, of course we’ll be left with great memories and great photos of a wonderful adventure!
Our Ethical Stance – Wildlife FIRST!Wildlife conservation is the primary reason for our involvement in wild-life photography. As such, we place the welfare and value of our subjects above the value of any photograph of them. This philosophy is embodied in our Wildlife FIRST rules of conduct that guide our actions during all our photo tours. These four simple ethical rules state that:
1. We engage in PASSIVE wildlife photography only. This means we strive to capture images of wildlife behaving as naturally as possible and without the use of “set-ups”, contrivances, or any actions that could guide the subjects toward desirable settings and/or backdrops
or elicit specific “poses”.2. We do nothing intentional to alter or influence the behaviour of our
subject(s) for the purposes of photography. This means we do not engage in any form of luring or baiting (or any other form of food supplementation). Additionally, we will not use any form of sound to alter the behaviour of the subject for the purpose of photography (including using predator and/or prey calls, vocal clicking, or making any other sound to encourage the subject to look at us).
3. While respecting any legal guidelines on minimum approach dis-tances, we always allow the wildlife subject – regardless of the species – to determine the distance it is comfortable with between itself and us. This principle not only serves to reduce the stress on the subject, but it also allows photographers to capture the subject behaving in a more natural, and often more interesting, fashion.
4. We strive to always consider both the individual and collective effects our photographic activities can have on our subjects. This includes being aware of the total time spent with the subjects. This means we will often break contact and withdraw from the subject, especially if there is any indication that our presence is impacting on the subject’s
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behavioural routine (including activities such as feeding, resting and/or sleeping, caring for its offspring, etc.). This consideration is al-ways important and may become even MORE important if multiple photographers or groups of photographers are working with the same subject.
Those participating in our photo tours are expected to conform to these rules of photographer conduct.
All images in this trip compendium and the Natural Art Images website (www.naturalart.ca) were captured following these Wildlife FIRST rules of photographer conduct.
For more information about this amazing trip contact Brad Hill at:
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Natural Art Images
T h e P h o t o g r a p h yo f
B r a d H i l lNatural Art Images
www.naturalart.ca Exposing Nature’s Art [email protected]
T h e P h o t o g r a p h yo f
B r a d H i l l
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Natural Art Images
T h e P h o t o g r a p h yo f
B r a d H i l lNatural Art Images
www.naturalart.ca Exposing Nature’s Art [email protected]
T h e P h o t o g r a p h yo f
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Natural Art Images
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